Master’s Degree

MA in Art Business (Online)

Date: Fall 2025 & Spring 2026
Duration: 1+ Year
Location: Online
Program: Master’s Degree
Mode of Learning: Online
Language: English
Topic: Art Business

Through immersive online learning, the MA Art Business (Online) degree enables you to cultivate expertise in art business and attain a comprehensive understanding of art markets and management.

Sotheby’s Institute of Art has designed an online delivery of our signature MA in Art Business. The Online MA in Art Business delivers all of the academic content remotely. The curriculum remains aligned with the listed in-person MA at Sotheby’s Institute in New York and is accredited by NASAD (the National Association of Schools of Art and Design).

Some modifications to the curriculum have been implemented to reflect best practices in online learning, as well as to better meet the needs of students, both domestic and international, for whom a degree completed over 18 to 24 months in an online mode is well adapted to their ongoing professional and personal commitments.

This program combines academic rigor with cutting-edge virtual learning technologies.

MA in Art Business (Online) students will be immersed in case studies that offer firsthand experience, such as analyzing the impact of blockchain technology on art transactions. Students interact with each other and learn together in projects and other activities.

The curriculum is designed to reflect the dynamic nature of the art market, ensuring that students stay updated on emerging technologies and market trends.

Highlights

Build a Portfolio

Signature student projects include designing themed auction sales catalogues, writing condition reports, curating art exhibitions, valuation problem-solving, contract negotiating preparation, and entrepreneurial project planning.

Join a Growing Professional Community

Foster networking opportunities and career growth by connecting with an extensive network of art professionals, offering virtual access to career fairs and internships.

Extensive Electronic Resources

In addition to important academic resources such as JSTOR and the ProQuest suite of databases, students have access to Lexis/Nexus and important professional art market resources such as Artnet and ArtPrice plus hundreds of thousands of ebooks.

Next Steps

Faculty

Adjunct Faculty, MA Art Business, Online

Lawrence S. Motz is an adjunct faculty member at Sotheby's Institute New York. Upon graduation from business school, Motz became an institutional emerging markets bond trader and later an investment banker with Prudential Securities, PaineWebber (UBS), and Kaufman Brothers, a boutique investment bank specializing in telecommunications. During that time, he also co-founded and served as CFO of eNet China, an early online Internet retailer headquartered in Beijing, China.

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Faculty, MA Art Business, New York & Online

Judith Prowda has been a member of the Sotheby’s institute of Art Masters of Art Business Faculty since 2007. She is an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator focused on art law, copyright, entertainment and commercial law. She is a founding member of Stropheus Art Law, a collective of art law and business specialists who offer unbundled services to the art community.

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Adjunct Faculty, MA Art Business, New York and Online Courses

Betsy Thomas is the founder and director of Thomas Art Advisory LLC, an art advisory and appraisal firm based in New York. She works closely with private collectors and institutions advising them on how to build high-quality collections as well as managing sales of estates, private and corporate collections as well as helping them navigate the charitable donation landscape.

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Adjunct Faculty, MA Art Business, New York and Online Courses

Maria brings over 25 years of international experience in the art world, first at museums – National Museum of Catalan Art, MNAC, in Barcelona and at the Louvre in Paris- then at Sotheby’s Auction House in London. During her time at Sotheby’s, she gained experience in all aspects of the auction world with a focus on business and client development. She has participated in numerous auctions and worked closely with all Sotheby’s European offices.

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Director, New York & Online

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Ann-Marie Richard is a fine art asset and design specialist, art historian, curator, author and advisor. Prior to her full-time appointment as Program Director, she was Executive Vice President at the art advisory firm Gurr Johns. She has lectured extensively on the topics of retrospective and emerging art markets, connoisseurship, collecting, conservation, provenance, and the related subtleties of appraising fine and decorative arts and design. Learn more...

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Featured

Field Study

In consideration of flexibility, the MA Art Business (Online) degree offers self-guided field studies and/or professional art practices supervised by the Institute’s faculty.

“...study trips abroad are a great way to cement these learnings on the ground, and experience art in the flesh, something paramount to a complete understanding of both contemporary art and the art market.” — Alexis Sarfati ’20

Details

Academic Structure

The MA Art Business (Online) program is designed for students to have the flexibility to complete the program at their own pace, in 3, 4, or 5 semesters. Students begin their classes in the Fall, take a minimum of 2 classes per semester and follow the sequence of classes and subject areas covered in the in-person program.

The weekly instruction involves two pre-recorded video lectures for students to view on their own schedule, as well as one live virtual class section per week held at a scheduled time. Students are supported throughout by extensive library resources, faculty advisors, and opportunities for peer collaboration.

This blended online approach allows working professionals and students from all backgrounds to complete their MA in Art Business affordably and with maximum flexibility while still gaining deep engagement with faculty and peers.

View required courses and electives here.

Tuition and Fees

Fall 2025 Tuition and Fees

Per Credit Tuition	Tuition for 36 credits*
$1,411	$50,796

*Please note this is tuition only. The total MA degree consists of 36 credit hours.

*The number of credits and total tuition each semester may vary depending on your selected track

For more information on tuition and program fees, click here

Frequently Asked Questions

From application information to course credits, find answers on our FAQ page. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, contact an Admissions counselor.

Student Policies

Explore our library of academic and campus policies here. All students who enroll for graduate study must agree to the Terms and Conditions upon accepting their offer of admittance.

The MA Art Business (Online) degree is awarded by Sotheby’s Institute of Art-New York. Sotheby’s Institute of Art-New York holds degree-granting authority from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Enterprise Studio

The Enterprise Studio was created as an extra-curricular program for Master’s students to receive training and support for new business ventures, culminating in a start-up pitch competition, the Gavel. Through close access to mentors, students have the chance to shape their plans from ideation to execution with the winning Gavel team receiving significant seed funding for their future business.

Accreditation

Sotheby’s Institute of Art-NY holds permanent degree-granting authority from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

5 Reasons to Study a Master’s Online

In today's fast-paced world, the pursuit of higher education has become more accessible and flexible than ever. With online master's degree programs at the forefront of this educational transformation, here are the advantages that make these programs a highly desirable choice for students around the globe.

Master’s Degree